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Outside

Our selection of the key items for your outside space. There will never be more than 50 in total, so you won’t need to look through more than five pages of products. Do consult the Complete Collection for more ideas.

Arlia Rattan Lounger Nkuku

Nothing like a rattan lounger to make you feel like you are already on holiday even if it is a bit cold at the moment. This is on pre-order though so you can practice getting in the mood and be ready to leap outside as soon as clocks change.
Jonah garden lounge set Made

This, as far as I am concerned, is the best garden set out there. I own it in grey (wish it was this natural colour) and it has a) been outside for nearly five years and is still in mint condition and b) revolutionised our use of the garden as it’s so comfortable it has turned the patio into an outdoor living room that we use almost as much as the indoor one in summer. Garden furniture is often square, boxy and ugly and that’s before we get to uncomfortable. The key to this is that it’s an outdoor version of an existing indoor model so you know it’s going to work. And now you can buy it as a complete set which makes it a very good deal.
Rina concrete coffee table Soho Home

Just a gorgeous piece that will work beautifully inside as well as out. Garden furniture can suffer from all looking the same and it’s refreshing to find a piece that can move in and out as you do. The glossy exterior is particularly pleasing and means it will be a brilliant addition to a dark interior as it will catch the light and reflect it back. There’s also a smaller, taller side table too. And if you prefer a pale olive green there is that option.
Poolside wine glasses Anthropologie

I’m guessing the majority of us won’t be using these poolside but they’re pretty good in the garden where at least if they are knocked over they won’t break as they are plastic. The colours are gorgeous too – one to bring out year after year.
Gallery Direct Eaton Side Table John Lewis

Sometimes switching the materials from the classic and expected can make all the difference to a room scheme. This iron table from John Lewis (in on trend paprika or classic grey) is great if you have a wooden floor and a wooden coffee table and feel it’s all getting too much. But the handle also means you can move it easily from room to room (and outdoors) as well as bringing a sculptural dimension to the space. It’s a useful piece that will stand the test of time.
Madotto Rug La Redoute

Checks are very definitely the shape of the moment but they are also a classic so whether you buy now because it’s fashionable or because you have always loved them, you will never go wrong with this rug (which is also in the colour of the moment – terracotta, red ochre or paprika depending on what you read). I have it under my kitchen table and it pops up on Instagram regularly. It’s made from recycled polyester and, as such, is fine for outside as well.
Metal armchair Zara Home

This is one of those useful pieces that works in any room of the house as well as the garden if you need extra seating – it’s weather resistant but it won’t want to live outside year round. The classic black iron shape means it will never go out of fashion, but you can change the cushions as often as you fancy. It doesn’t come with these ones pictured so you will have to make do with what you have or buy some new ones. If you look closely at this you will see the cushions come with little ribbons so you can tie them to the frame and they, and by extension you, won’t slip off. If you are using your own cushions, then if you have a bit of leftover ribbon (and I’m always keeping it and never knowing what to use it for) then you can sew your own.
Benlo garden bench Made

Every now and then you find one of those pieces that will cause jaws to drop when you tell people where it’s from. This grey concrete and blue glaze bench is one of those pieces. This could easily be a £900 piece from one of the snazzy garden companies. The sculptural legs will add interest to your view for the eight months of the year when you barely open the back door and you can decorate with planters as well as bottoms depending on how you use your outdoor space.
Shona chair Made

The key to garden furniture is making sure it’s as comfortable as your indoor furniture - otherwise you won’t sit out there and there’s nothing like an early evening drink in the garden as opposed to the sitting room to make you feel like you’re on holiday even if you aren’t. This black chair is perfect and made from polyrattan which means it can happily live outside all year round (apart from the cushion but that should be easier to store than a whole chair). If black feels a bit too dour for the garden (although it loves a vibrant green plant) you can always change the cushion for a different one.
Rander ceramic stool Oka

You will never go wrong with a black and white stripe – it loves to add playfulness to a minimal scheme and slices through a floral one with delight stopping it from becoming too overwhelming and fussy. This ceramic table is hand-painted (which softens the stripes a little) and has a glazed finish so it can be used in the garden. Use it as extra seating, or for drinks, or even as a footrest. Totally classic, totally versatile.